In a murder trial, Maurice Power, 31, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Shane Rossiter on 17 October 2012 in Tipperary. Prosecutor Anthony Sammon SC confirmed that Power told Garda Adrian Cooke that the incident was over, that he would go to jail and that no one else would be harmed. Power said the weapon was destroyed in pieces with a grinder and that he felt "very relieved, like a serious weight was lifted" and that he was safer and happier since the shooting. During cross‑examination, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC questioned Garda Larry Burgan about time spent with Power outside formal interviews, alleging bullying and cajoling. Burgan denied this, stating that Power's statements were voluntary. The trial is proceeding before a jury of seven women and five men presided over by Justice Deirdre Murphy.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin began deliberations on the trial of two Dublin youths, Thomas Heinrich (22) and Robert Rinker (23), charged with murdering a German student and injuring another. The incident occurred on St Anthony's Road in Rialto on 1 December 2012, when Heinrich was stabbed to death and Rinker survived with injuries. Wesley Kelly (20) pleaded not guilty to murder and assault causing harm to Rinker, while a 17‑year‑old unnamed defendant also denied both charges. The State alleges a joint enterprise between the accused, and the judge instructed the jury to consider the defence of self‑defence and the amount of force used. The jury spent just over half an hour before being sent home, with a return scheduled for the next morning. The judge warned that if a verdict was not reached by lunchtime he would send them home for the weekend.
The jury has begun deliberating the trial of Robert Corbet, 25, of Capoley, who is charged with murdering 30‑year‑old Nanny Aoife Phelan in his garage. Corbet pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter between 25 October and 7 November, when Phelan's body was found in a barrel buried 10 feet below ground. He claimed they had met a few months earlier and that Phelan had told him she was pregnant with his child, a claim disproved by an autopsy. Corbet testified that he lost self‑control, strangled her, put her body in a barrel, buried it behind his house the next day, and then flew to New York. His barrister urged the jury to ignore the desecration of the body and focus on the moment of death, suggesting a verdict of manslaughter on the grounds of provocation.
In a 2014 trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 25‑year‑old Laois man, Robert Corbet, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 30‑year‑old Aoife Phelan. Corbet testified that he had argued with Phelan about a claimed pregnancy, after which she threatened to ruin his life and business. He said he lost self‑control, strangled her, hit her, and placed a plastic bag and cable ties around her neck before dropping her body into a barrel on his property. Corbet admitted to having suicidal thoughts during Garda interviews and claimed he would have said anything to finish them. The prosecution argued he was not provoked and that his actions were calculated. The case was heard by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan with a jury of nine men and three women.
In the Rialto murder trial, two Dublin youths, Thomas Heinrich (22) and Robert Rinker (23), were charged with stabbing a German student, Heinrich, to death and injuring Rinker on St Anthony's Road on 1 December 2012. A 20‑year‑old Wesley Kelly pleaded not guilty to murder and assault causing harm, while a 17‑year‑old, unnamed, also denied both charges. Prosecutor Tara Burns argued that the accused sought a fight and were acting under joint enterprise, noting that Rinker and Heinrich each brought knives and that the 17‑year‑old admitted to striking the fatal wound but denied responsibility for the other three wounds. She rejected self‑defence for all accused. Defence counsel Sean Gillane highlighted panic and confusion, asserting his client had no intent to kill and that his Garda statements were consistent. Aileen Donnelly defended Kelly, claiming he was not part of a joint enterprise and had no intent to cause serious harm.
In the trial of Maurice Power, 31, of Dranganbeg, Kilmoyler, Cahir, the accused pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter on 17 October 2013. Power admitted to the Gardaí that he had "let a shot" at Rossiter at 6.45 am that morning. He claimed the shooting was a "kill or be killed" situation, citing a seven‑year history of conflict and a belief that he was being set up. Power said he fired a sawn‑off shotgun twice – once from the passenger seat of his car and again from inside Rossiter's house – killing him in the chest and on the right side. He also stated that he had burned his car and disposed of the weapon. The case is proceeding before a jury presided by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
A 37‑year‑old man, Darren Murphy, was accused of murdering Olivia Dunlea, 36, in Passage West, Cork, on 17 February 2013. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and he also pleaded guilty to arson on the victim's home. During the trial, Murphy admitted to handing over a pair of clothes to Gardaí that were not his, claiming they were worn on the night the body was found. He explained that a heated argument in a taxi and at the victim's house led him to stab her twice with a knife he described as a long blade with a red handle. Murphy said he lit the house on fire because he did not want her three children to find her body. He also admitted to suffering from depression and having stopped taking medication. The case was set to continue before a jury the following day.
In a 2014 case, a 33‑year‑old man, Vesel Jahiri, was arrested on suspicion of murdering Anna Finnegan in Dublin on 21 September 2012. He pleaded not guilty to both murder and assault causing harm to Anna's brother Karl. The Central Criminal Court heard that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children and access issues. Karl testified that after putting the children to bed, he and Anna were in the kitchen when Jahiri burst in with a knife, stabbing Anna in the chest and head while she fled. Jahiri claimed he did not stab Anna, arguing he fought Karl, and blamed multiple parties for the incident. Gardaí interviews showed Jahiri denying responsibility and expressing love for Anna. The case was set to continue before a jury with Justice Paul McDermott presiding.
In a murder trial, the court heard that 30‑year‑old Laois nanny Aoife Phelan was not pregnant when she was strangled to death. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Phelan's body was found buried behind the accused Robert Corbet's property. The autopsy revealed asphyxia with blood in the nose and ears, pinpoint haemorrhages in the eyes and mouth, fractured hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage, and blunt‑force trauma to the head. Cassidy noted multiple greenstick rib fractures and concluded that Phelan was first assaulted and then strangled, with no evidence of struggle in the barrel. She stated the cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulation, with blunt‑force trauma as a contributory factor. The trial also covered Corbet's admissions and the circumstances of the burial. The prosecution closed its case before the judge and jury. Robert Corbet pleaded not guilty. Aoife Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Wesley Kelly and a 17-year-old accused of murdering Thomas Heinrich and assaulting Robert Rinker in Rialto is in its closing stages at the Central Criminal Court. Kelly, aged 20, has pleaded not guilty to both charges, while the minor also denies the allegations. Prosecutors Tara Burns SC stated the pair were charged on the basis of joint enterprise after allegedly seeking a fight. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that Heinrich died from a stab wound to the abdomen causing hemorrhage and shock. She identified a large kitchen knife as the likely weapon, noting it required little force to inflict the fatal injury, though she conceded under cross-examination that it was impossible to definitively link specific knives to specific wounds. Consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon Michael Tolan described treating Rinker, who survived despite severe chest and abdominal stab wounds, a pierced lung, and significant blood loss. Tolan noted Rinker was lucky to survive. The prosecution has finished calling evidence, and the matter remains ongoing as the trial proceeds toward its conclusion.
Vesel Jahiri, 33, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Anna Finnegan at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on September 21, 2012. He also faces a charge of assault causing harm on Anna Finnegan's brother, Karl, on the same date. The jury heard evidence that Jahiri allegedly told Anna's sister, Lisa Finnegan, over the phone that he was "coming for her next." Witness Connie Farrelly testified to hearing this statement on loudspeaker while driving to Blanchardstown Hospital. Under cross-examination, Farrelly acknowledged previous convictions that resulted in substantial jail time. Another witness, Paul Callen, stated that Jahiri phoned him shortly after taking Anna to hospital, claiming he had turned a knife back on them after being hit with a chair. The court heard that Jahiri and Anna Finnegan had a ten-year relationship that had deteriorated, with access to their two children becoming a contentious issue. Karl Finnegan previously testified that Jahiri allegedly burst into the home with a knife, leading to an altercation in which Karl was stabbed in the chest and head. Jahiri maintains that Karl produced the knives and that Anna was fatally injured while trying to stop her brother from stabbing him. The trial continues before a jury of six men and five women, with Mr Justice Paul McDermott presiding.
A 37‑year‑old man, Darren Murphy, stands trial in the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Olivia Dunlea, 36, who lived in Pembroke Crescent, Passage West, Co Cork. Murphy, who had been in a relationship with Dunlea for three months, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and to arson on her home. Prosecutor Thomas Creed SC presented evidence that the body was found in an upstairs bedroom after a fire, with six stab wounds to the neck and inhalation of toxic fumes. Murphy admitted he "snapped" and grabbed a knife, lit a quilt beside the bed and a roll of tissue paper on the kitchen table before leaving the house. He was arrested at 10:30 pm on 17 February 2013, cautioned and detained at Togher Garda Station. The case was set to continue before a jury of seven men and five women with Mr Justice Paul Carney presiding.
In a murder trial in County Tipperary, Maurice "Mossy" Power, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Shane Rossiter on 17 October. The prosecution alleged Power fired two shots at Rossiter, causing fatal injuries. Power was also alleged to have received a CCTV camera chip from resident Sharon O'Donnell in Clonmel in October 2012, which he claimed was for his own peace of mind. Garda Larry Burgan reported that Power was not arrested on 17 October and was free to leave the station after a brief interview. Power claimed he had been driving around with friends, met Rossiter and his brother, and later went to his father's house. The trial is proceeding before a jury presided by Justice Deirdre Murphy.
The 25‑year‑old accused, Robert Corbet, told detectives that he killed Laois nanny Aoife Phelan because she was pregnant and he feared the pregnancy would ruin his relationship with his ex‑girlfriend. Corbet admitted to killing Phelan between 25 October and 7 November, when her body was found in a barrel buried about ten feet deep on his property. He said he had strangled her after an argument about their relationship, describing how he put a black bag over her head and sealed the barrel before leaving it in a shed. Corbet also admitted that he had flown to New York to visit his ex‑girlfriend the following evening, and that he had wanted to "sort everything out" with Phelan before that trip. The trial is proceeding before a jury and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan. The court heard that Corbet had denied involvement in Phelan's disappearance but admitted to killing her after phone records were presented to him. The unnamed 25-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the Dublin murder trial, the jury was shown a heavily bloodstained coat linked to the case. Thomas Heinrich, 22, was stabbed to death on St Anthony's Road, Rialto, on 1 December 2012, while Robert Rinker survived. Wesley Kelly, 20, pleaded not guilty to murder and assault causing harm. A 17‑year‑old defendant also denied both charges. Prosecutor Tara Burns argued the accused acted under joint enterprise. Forensic evidence presented by Sandra McGrath included DNA from knives, a bread knife, ETO jeans, a Duffer hooded top, a Marc O'Polo coat, and a Tommy Hilfiger jacket. DNA from the coat matched Heinrich; DNA from the jacket matched Rinker and the 17‑year‑old. Kelly was arrested at Kilmainham Garda Station after voluntarily presenting himself, claiming self‑defence. The trial remains ongoing.
Darren Murphy, 37, of Passage West, Co Cork, is set to stand trial for the murder of 36‑year‑old Olivia Dunlea, who was found dead at Pembroke Crescent on 17 February 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, but has admitted guilt to a second charge of damage by fire to the same house. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, will hear the case before Mr Justice Paul Carney, with the trial expected to last one week.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Robert Corbet, 25, accused of murdering Aoife Phelan, heard evidence that the defendant led gardai on a 'wild goose chase' to locations he falsely claimed were the scene of the crime. Corbet, from Sheffield Cross, Laois, has pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted to manslaughter. Detective Sergeant Brian Hanley of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation testified that Corbet directed officers to a hard shoulder where he alleged the incident occurred, a journey the defence described as a 'voyage of fiction' intended to divert attention from the Corbet family property. The jury reviewed CCTV footage showing a truck dumping filling gravel at the site where Phelan's body was later discovered eight to ten feet underground. Garda Paul Wilson explained the footage depicted Corbet's jeep movements around the time of Phelan's disappearance and subsequent activity at the Capoley yard. Garda Eamon O'Connell detailed the excavation process, describing how he uncovered rubble, tyres, and eventually a metal drum containing Phelan's remains. The trial continues before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan.
In a Dublin 15 murder case, 33‑year‑old Vesel Jahiri, a Louth Village resident originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Anna Finnegan on 21 September 2012. He also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Finnegan's brother Karl on the same day. The court heard that Jahiri and Finnegan had a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children and access issues. On the night of the incident, Jahiri allegedly burst into Finnegan's kitchen with a knife, an altercation ensued, and Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head. Jahiri claimed Karl produced the knives and that Finnegan was injured while trying to stop him. An electrician, Damian Lynch, testified that Jahiri told him Finnegan was "OK" and that Karl had been badly hurt. The case is set to continue before a jury.
Lisa Collins, partner of Christopher McCarthy, gave evidence in the Special Criminal Court trial of Nathan Killeen (24) and Wayne Dundon (36) for the murder of Roy Collins. She described a morning on 9 April 2009 when Killeen and James Dillon called to her home on Crecora Avenue, asking for her brother Gareth Collins. Killeen spoke to Gareth about driving a car, and after a brief conversation, Killeen and Dillon left. Later, Killeen returned, changed clothes, and told Lisa to "listen out for sirens" as they expected police sirens. He also said he was going to the Steering Wheel pub to shoot Steve Collins. Lisa heard sirens, saw Killeen and Dillon running, and later reported the incident to the gardai on 10 October 2012. The trial continues before Justice Iseult O'Malley. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty. Roy Collins pleaded not guilty.
In a 2014 Central Criminal Court hearing, Robert Corbet, a 25‑year‑old from Sheffield Cross, Laois, was charged with the murder of 30‑year‑old nanny Aoife Phelan. Corbet pleaded not guilty but admitted manslaughter. He told Gardaí that he had snapped after Phelan threatened to ruin him if he walked away from her and her pregnancy. He claimed he had met her in his jeep on 25 October, that she had been "pushy" about not being in a relationship, and that he struck her on the head several times. Corbet said he then drove to Dublin, left her body on a bridge, and tried to dispose of it. He denied any recent phone contact about a pregnancy, but phone records and deleted WhatsApp messages were presented. The case was heard before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan.
In a 2014 trial, a jury viewed CCTV footage of a 25‑year‑old mother of two, Anna Finnegan, being driven to hospital by Vesel Jahiri, who is accused of her murder. The footage shows Jahiri, a 33‑year‑old man originally from Kosovo, arriving at the hospital at 20:49 on 21 September 2012 in a white Ford Focus. He allegedly lifted Finnegan from the back seat, and witnesses describe her appearing to slip from his grasp. Finnegan was later found unconscious with a wound on her chest. Jahiri also faces a charge of assault causing harm against Finnegan's brother, Karl, on the same day. The case is set to continue before a jury with Mr Justice Paul McDermott presiding. The trial focuses on the events of that night and the alleged actions of Jahiri. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
In the Rialto murder trial, the jury watched CCTV footage of the December 1, 2012 incident on St Anthony's Road. Thomas Heinrich, 22, was stabbed and died; Robert Rinker survived. Wesley Kelly, 20, pleaded not guilty to murder and assault causing harm. A 17‑year‑old also denied the charges. Prosecutor Tara Burns said the accused sought a fight and were charged under joint enterprise. The footage showed Heinrich entering the apartments at 4:34 am, letting in Rinker, Julia Weidler and a friend Lars. Rinker left at 5:20 am, returned at 5:30 am, and was seen striking Kelly. Heinrich re‑entered, the door closed, and the pair were followed into the apartments. Witnesses, including Weidler, described the men's movements, the use of knives, and the injuries sustained. Firefighters and Gardaí found blood, knives, and wounds, confirming the violent nature of the incident. The trial continues.
A trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court regarding the murder of Aoife Phelan (30), whose body was discovered buried in a barrel in Capoley Portlaoise between 25 October and 7 November 2012. Robert Corbet of Sheffield Cross County Laois is accused of the murder but pleaded not guilty, though he admitted to manslaughter earlier this week. The plea of manslaughter was not accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Sergeant Liam Mulhall testified that gardai found evidence of a disturbance near Corbet's home on 6 November 2012, leading to an excavation where a barrel containing Phelan's remains was discovered. The discovery was described as 'the saddest and most gruesome discovery made' by Conor Devally SC defending. Betty Phelan, the mother of the deceased, stated that concerns arose when her daughter did not answer her phone on 26 October 2012, which was out of character for her. It was confirmed that Phelan had made a complaint to gardai in 2005 following an incident of non-consensual sex, which had deeply upset her. The trial continues before Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and a jury of three women and nine men.
A German student, Robert Rinker, survived a stabbing that killed his friend Thomas Heinrich and testified in the murder trial of two Dublin youths. Rinker, from Stuttgart, met Heinrich on his first day at Griffith College and they were studying in Dublin. On 1 December 2012, after a night out, Rinker and another German student went to Heinrich's apartment. Rinker describes hearing two boys on the street and later seeing a taller boy with a knife. He says he tried to scare the boys with two knives, but they attacked him. Rinker claims he fought the taller boy, dragged him outside, and that Heinrich was left inside. Both were taken to hospital; Heinrich died. Rinker testified that the accused, Wesley Kelly, was the taller boy and that Kelly had no knife when he punched Rinker. The trial is before Mr Justice Barry White with a jury of twelve. Wesley Kelly pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Vesel Jahiri, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and the assault causing harm to her brother, Karl, at Allendale Glen, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, on September 21, 2012. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that Ms Finnegan died from a single, non-survivable stab wound to the left chest. He stated the knife penetrated between the seventh and eighth ribs, slicing through the pancreas and stomach before terminating at the abdominal aorta. Dr Curtis noted there were no defensive wounds on the deceased, though he agreed with defence counsel that he could not exclude the possibility she was injured while intervening in a fight. Witness Ms Joan Broe described seeing Jahiri advance aggressively toward the Finnegan siblings, alleging he punched Karl and then attacked Anna, causing her to flee. Jahiri is alleged to have pursued her, jumping on her and punching her before she collapsed. The defence contends that Karl Finnegan produced the knives and that Anna was fatally injured while trying to stop her brother from stabbing Jahiri. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and five women.
In the Special Criminal Court, the cross‑examination of Gareth Collins, 31, concluded on 14 May 2014. Collins, a convicted Limerick criminal, had earlier claimed he was offered €20,000 to help kill publican Steve Collins, the father of the murder victim Roy Collins. He testified that on the day of the murder, Nathan Killeen and James Dillon had called his sister's house, and that Killeen had contacted Wayne Dundon, who allegedly told Collins to drive Killeen to the Steering Wheel pub to kill Steve Collins. Collins admitted giving Gardaí an incorrect account of his whereabouts on 9 April 2009, citing fear of people and what they had asked him to do. He also acknowledged that his earlier statement was "just spoofing" and that he had no memory of the details. During cross‑examination, Collins denied that he had lied, said he had not been offered money, and claimed he was owed a few pounds by Christopher McCarthy. Roy Collins pleaded not guilty.
Two Dublin youths are currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court, facing charges related to the stabbing of two German students on St Anthony's Road in Rialto on December 1, 2012. Wesley Kelly, 20, and a 17-year-old co-accused, whose identity is protected due to age, have both pleaded not guilty to the murder of Thomas Heinrich and the assault causing harm to Robert Rinker. Mr. Heinrich, 22, died from his injuries, while Mr. Rinker survived. Prosecuting counsel Tara Burns SC opened the trial by alleging that the accused went to the apartment "looking for a fight" and are being prosecuted on the basis of joint enterprise. She stated that a verbal altercation escalated into a physical confrontation where knives were used. The prosecution maintains that defences of self-defence or excessive self-defence are not supported by the facts. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of three women and nine men. It is expected to last two weeks. No findings, sentences, or finalisations have been recorded at this procedural stage.
The trial of Robert Corbet (25) of Sheffield Cross County Laois, charged with the murder of Aoife Phelan (30) between 25 October and 7 November 2012, commenced at the Central Criminal Court. Corbet pleaded not guilty to the murder charge but admitted to manslaughter, a plea not accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The prosecution alleges that Corbet met Phelan at a nightclub, engaged in sexual contact without intercourse, and later repeatedly struck her before disposing of her body in an oil barrel at Capoley, Portlaoise. The cause of death is stated as asphyxia with blunt force trauma to the head and chest. The prosecution claims Corbet brought Phelan to his garage, restrained her, and disposed of her body. Garda Louise Young detailed that Phelan's father, Michael Phelan, reported her missing on 26 October 2012. Her mobile phone and handbag were later found in Corbet's vehicle. Corbet's statement to gardai indicated he had no sexual intercourse with Phelan and denied being the father of her unborn child. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, continues with a jury of three women and nine men, with CCTV footage to be presented.
In a 2014 Central Criminal Court hearing, Vesel Jahiri, 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl. The case involved a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, with two children. Witness Karl Finnegan testified that Jahiri entered Finnegan's home with a knife, leading to an altercation in which Finnegan was stabbed in the chest and head. Finnegan fled, collapsed on the roadside, and later died. Finnegan's brother claimed he had no memory of the fight, attributing his amnesia to refusing to recall the incident. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan presented Jahiri's version, denying the presence of a knife and arguing Finnegan's injuries were a result of her attempt to stop an attack. The trial proceeded to a jury hearing on the following day.
A 55‑year‑old man, Samuel Devlin, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 13 May 2014 charged with unlawful possession of an explosive substance, Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN), at Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, Co. Dublin, on 11 May 2014. He was also charged with membership of the unlawful organisation Oglaigh na hEireann (the Irish Republican Army). Devlin was arrested on 11 May by the Special Detective Unit and was brought to court wearing a grey zip‑up top and jeans. He declined to give his address or date of birth when asked, but the State Solicitor, Mr. Michael O'Donovan, noted that his passport had revealed his date of birth. Devlin pleaded not guilty to both charges. The court, presided over by Justice Iseult O'Malley with Judges Margaret Heneghan and Ann Ryan, remanded him in custody for three weeks to appear again on 3 June. No bail was granted and legal aid was approved.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Wayne Dundon, Nathan Killeen, and Gareth Collins, who have all pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 35-year-old Roy Collins at Coin Castle Amusements in April 2009, continued before a non-jury court presided over by Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley. Gareth Collins, also known as Gareth Keogh, testified that he was offered €20,000 to drive Nathan Killeen to the Steering Wheel pub to shoot Roy Collins's father, Steve Collins. Collins stated he repeatedly refused the request, which he said was coordinated by Dundon via mobile phone from a prison cell. He described an incident where Killeen and James Dillon visited his sister's house, with Killeen allegedly retrieving petrol and a rag before leaving. Collins admitted to prior convictions, including a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for demanding money with menaces. Steve Collins, the victim's father, testified that he found his son shot in the arcade. Garda Steven Kelleher and Garda Deirdre Foley provided accounts of the scene and the victim's subsequent death at the hospital. The trial was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
In the Central Criminal Court, Vesel Jahiri, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assault causing harm to her brother Karl on 21 September 2012. Prosecutor Patrick Marrinan described a ten‑year relationship that had deteriorated, noting that the couple had two children. Witness Karl Finnegan testified that he was having tea with Anna when Jahiri burst into the house with a knife. He claimed to have seen the knife, describing it as having a wooden handle with rivets, and said he was stabbed in the chest and head while Anna fled. Finnegan also stated that he had made statements to Gardaí in 2014, detailing the events and the alleged knife. The case was set to continue before a jury with Justice Paul McDermott presiding.
In Dublin, two youths, aged 20 and 17, pleaded not guilty to murder and assault causing harm following the stabbing of German student Thomas Heinrich and the survival of Robert Rinker on 1 December 2012 near their Rialto home. The 20‑year‑old, Wesley Kelly, and the unnamed 17‑year‑old were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court. A jury of three women and nine men was sworn in, and the trial, presided over by Mr Justice Barry White, is set to begin on Tuesday and is expected to last two weeks.
A man from Portlaoise, Robert Corbet, aged 25, was arraigned at Dublin Central Criminal Court on 12 May 2014. He faces a murder charge for the death of 30‑year‑old Aoife Phelan, who worked at Hermitage in Portlaoise. Corbet pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Isobel Kennedy SC. The alleged killing occurred between 25 October and 7 November 2012 at Capoley, Portlaoise. The trial, presided over by Justice Garrett Sheehan, is expected to last two weeks with a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court, Vesel Jahiri, aged 33, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anna Finnegan and to assaulting her brother Karl. Karl testified that he and Anna were having tea when a bang was heard at the front door. He saw Jahiri entering with a knife, and Anna screamed and fled. Karl claimed he was stabbed in the head and chest by Jahiri, who said he acted in self‑defence and had no part in stabbing Anna. Karl described being on the ground, possibly blacking out, and later seeing Anna collapse. He noted Jahiri's presence near Anna but no visible injuries. Jahiri's defence argued that a recorded conversation with social worker Karen Byrne was misrepresented. The case remains before a jury presided by Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
In a 2014 Central Criminal Court hearing, Edward Boylan Jnr, aged 31, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of his 74‑year‑old father, Edward Boylan Snr, at the father's flat in Crumlin. Boylan had been diagnosed with schizophrenia over a decade earlier and was a special‑needs prisoner at Mountjoy Prison, where he had been hearing voices and had requested medication that was not provided. He was released the day before the killing without appropriate supervision or medication. On the morning of the murder, Boylan stabbed his father 13 times with a 100‑year‑old bayonet, then set the apartment on fire. Psychiatric experts for both sides confirmed that Boylan was in a manic, psychotic state and could not control his actions, meeting the criteria for an insanity verdict. The judge ordered Boylan to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital for a future treatment report due on 19 May.".
In a Dublin Central Criminal Court trial, the jury heard that Vesel Jahiri, aged 33, had not told social workers that it would be easy for him to stab his former partner, Anna Finnegan, aged 25, as alleged by witnesses. The social worker, Karen Byrne, testified that Jahiri had threatened to kill Finnegan and their children. She claimed that Jahiri had said it would be easy to stab Finnegan but would not do so because he loved her. During cross‑examination, defence counsel played an audio recording of the conversation. Byrne stated that the tape was "doctored" and that a portion of the recording was missing. The case was set to continue before a jury of 6 men and 5 women, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Vesel Jahiri pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 31‑year‑old Dublin man, Edward Boylan Jnr, was charged with killing his 74‑year‑old father with a World War I sword. He admitted stabbing his father 13 times, then setting fire to the apartment. Both sides presented psychiatric evidence. The prosecution's Dr Sally Linehan testified that Boylan Jnr had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and later schizoaffective disorder, and that he believed his father's eyes were changing colour, a sign of threat, which led to the fatal act. She argued he was in an active phase of mental illness and could not control his actions, meeting the criteria for a special verdict of "not guilty by reason of insanity." The defence's Dr Paul O'Connell also confirmed Boylan Jnr's psychosis at the time of the killing. The case is before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of seven men and five women.
In the Central Criminal Court, Maurice "Mossy" Power, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter, who died after being shot twice on 17 October 2012. The prosecution said the shots were fired at about 6.30 am following a house party in Church Lane, Golden, Co. Tipperary. Witnesses included Paul McCarthy, who fled to a graveyard after the first shot, and Rachel Keating, who had known Rossiter for a week and testified that Rossiter had called Power to arrange a delivery of weed. Keating described a conversation about money owed and a kiss goodnight before Rossiter was shot. Paramedic T.J. Connolly reported that Rossiter was taken to South Tipperary General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead an hour later. The trial is now addressing legal issues before a jury of twelve, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
In a 2014 trial, Vesel Jahiri, a 33‑year‑old man originally from Kosovo, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner Anna Finnegan and to assaulting her brother Karl on 21 September 2012. The jury heard that the couple's relationship had deteriorated sharply before Finnegan's death and that they had two children together. Social worker Karen Byrne testified that Jahiri had threatened to stab Finnegan during a meeting at the Wellmount Centre, but she claimed he would not act on the threat because he loved her. The defence plans to play an audio recording of the conversation. Witnesses described Finnegan's move to a women's refuge and the high‑risk assessment she received. The trial continued with a jury of 11, after one juror was excused.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Maurice Power, a 31‑year‑old Tipperary man charged with the murder of Shane Rossiter, the sister of the 29‑year‑old victim testified that Power had told her he was planning to sort out differences with her brother shortly before the shooting. Power was said to have approached the Rossiter family after the victim's return from Australia, apologising for past conflicts. Witnesses described a brief encounter between Power and the victim the evening before the killing, with no apparent tension. Liam O'Sullivan, a neighbour, heard two gunshots at 6.30 am on 17 October 2012 and saw a man in a grey hoodie leave the house. Paul McCarthy, who called emergency services, reported seeing a gun barrel exit a car window and hearing a shot. The prosecution noted that a black Audi A4, later burnt out in a Waterford bog, was linked to Power's partner. The trial continues.
Two brothers from Claremorris in County Mayo have been remanded to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court in December 2015 on charges relating to membership of an unlawful organisation and explosives offences. Colin Mannion, aged 33, and Brian Mannion, aged 31, both of Burriscarra, Clogher, face allegations of IRA membership on 9 June 2012. They are also charged with unlawful possession of explosive substances including RDX and PETN, along with detonators and electrical components found at their home on the same date. At a hearing this week, legal representatives for both men sought a trial date, which the presiding judge, Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley, fixed for 2 December 2015. The court imposed strict procedural requirements, including notification of any alibi defence within 14 days and provision of witness notice 21 days before trial.
A 31‑year‑old Dublin man, Edward Boylan Jnr, is on trial for murdering his 74‑year‑old father by stabbing him with a 100‑year‑old bayonet, a family heirloom from World War 1. Boylan Jnr admitted stabbing his father, causing death, but pleaded not guilty. He was released from Mountjoy Prison on 6 January 2012, and that evening was seen at Ravensdale Close, a gated retirement community where his father lived. Prosecutor Conor Devally told the jury that Boylan Jnr used the bayonet or sword, plunged it through his father's chest multiple times, and later bought lighter fluid and matches to set fire to the apartment. The fire was discovered by neighbours; the Dublin fire brigade found the victim with the bayonet protruding from his chest. Detective Sergeant Barry Butler testified that 13 stab wounds were confirmed, penetrating the heart, lungs, sternum, liver and kidney, and that the victim died before the fire started.
In the trial of Maurice Power, 31, accused of murdering 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter on 17 October 2012, a witness, Paul McCarthy, testified that he felt he was being set up by Rossiter. McCarthy, who is now in custody, said he was in the house on Church Lane, Golden, when Rossiter asked him to go outside. He claimed to have seen a gun barrel from a car, ran, and called emergency services after hearing one shot. McCarthy admitted taking drugs that night and that he could not recall details, including Rossiter's name. He also denied calling for weed delivery and said he had told Gardaí he was being set up. The prosecution alleged Power fired two shots, causing Rossiter's death. The trial is set to continue before a jury presided by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy. Maurice Power pleaded not guilty.
A 33‑year‑old man, Vesel Jahiri, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his former partner, Anna Finnegan, who was 25 and mother of their two children. Jahiri pleaded not guilty to both the murder and an assault on Finnegan's brother, Karl, on 21 September 2012. The prosecution, represented by Patrick Marrinan SC, described Finnegan's relationship with Jahiri as having deteriorated a month before her death, with the couple no longer living together. On the night of the murder, Jahiri allegedly forced entry into Finnegan's home, where an altercation with Karl resulted in Finnegan being stabbed in the chest and head. She was taken to James Connolly Hospital, where she died at 10.30 pm. Jahiri later contacted emergency services, was arrested the next day, and denied any involvement in the stabbing, claiming self‑defence.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the murder trial of Nathan Killeen (23) and Wayne Dundon (35) after the sudden death of Killeen's mother. Killeen, of Hyde Road, Prospect, and Dundon, of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, are charged with killing businessman Roy Collins, 35, at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009. The trial began on 6 May 2014 but was paused when Killeen's mother died on Friday morning. Judge Iseult O'Malley, hearing the case, expressed condolences and granted an adjournment until next week, allowing Killeen to attend his mother's funeral with a supervised escort from the prison service. The prosecution had alleged that Dundon directed the murder from prison, Killeen was the getaway driver, and James Dillon fired the fatal shot. The case was set to resume on Monday. Nathan Killeen pleaded not guilty. Wayne Dundon pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Maurice Power, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 29‑year‑old Shane Rossiter, who died on 17 October 2012 after being shot at a house party in Church Lane, Golden, Co. Tipperary. State Pathologist Marie Cassidy testified that a post‑mortem at Waterford Regional Hospital revealed two shotgun entry wounds to Rossiter's chest and abdomen, with no exit wounds, causing catastrophic internal injuries and massive blood loss. The wounds damaged the right lung, heart, liver, spleen, bowel, aorta and inferior vena cava, leading to death by blood loss. Cassidy noted Rossiter had taken cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and benzodiazepam, but these substances were not the cause of death. The trial continued on Tuesday before a jury of seven women and five men, presided over by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy.
The Central Criminal Court is continuing the trial of Maurice Power, a 31‑year‑old from Dranganbeg, Kilmoyler, Cahir, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Shane Rossiter, 30, in Co. Tipperary on 17 October 2012. A jury of seven women and five men was sworn in for a three‑week trial, but legal matters are being addressed while the jury is absent, with the jury scheduled to hear evidence the following day.
The Special Criminal Court in Limerick adjourned the murder trial of Wayne Dundon (35) and Nathan Killeen (23) until Thursday to finish a lengthy disclosure process. The defendants are charged with killing businessman Roy Collins, 35, at Coin Castle Amusements on 9 April 2009. Prosecutor Michael O'Higgins SC requested 48 more hours to complete disclosure of recordings made between Gardaí and civilian witnesses, describing the task as long and complicated. Seán Guerin SC noted a prior disclosure order concerning the prison service and identified additional material that might be relevant, asking for a similar order. Dundon's barrister Remy Farrell SC and Killeen's counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC argued the requested materials were relevant and requested an adjournment. Justice Iseult O'Malley granted the adjournment, acknowledging the effort invested by both sides, and proposed opening the case on Thursday, with the possibility of further adjournment if needed.
A 31‑year‑old man from Dranganbeg, Kilmoyler, Cahir, named Maurice Power, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Shane Rossiter, 30, in County Tipperary on 17 October 2012. A jury of seven women and five men was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for a three‑week trial that is set to begin on Tuesday.